Who is she that comes forth as the daybreak?
Who is this queen, most beautiful among women, whose brightness eclipses the sun?
Who is this brilliant star raised to a higher place than the Heavenly Host?
Is this Miriam? Is this the poor young girl from the occupied land, less than nothing in the eyes of the world? Is this the servant from the temple who became pregnant? Is this the homeless woman, the exhausted and traumatized mother, the despised refugee? Is this the widow who stood beneath the cross? Is this the woman, nearly mad with grief, who left her Son in tomb?
Is this the woman no one ever gave a second look?
Who is she that comes forth as the daybreak?
Yes, this is Miriam, the impossibility, the Woman who Encompassed the Man, the Virgin who conceived child, the Mother whose womb was more spacious than the Heavens. This is the queen upon whose fiat rested the salvation of the whole human race. This is one who believed in God’s promise. This is one whom God obeyed. This is the perfect disciple who never left the teacher’s side. This is the woman who willingly became the mother of the whole human race. She suffered all the agony of Christ and her faith did not waver. Now her Son raises her from the dead, and gives her a place above the angels.
Not a single angel in Paradise is more worthy than she– she, the perfect vessel, the spotless tabernacle, the new Ark of the Covenant never to be lost. She is the morning that will not be overtaken by night. For no word from God will ever fail.
From this day, all generations will call her blessed, because she is the mother of all generations. Miriam is Jerusalem,where all the children are gathered home together. Miriam is the mother of the prophets, the patriarchs; of apostles, martyrs, confessors. She is the mother of virgins and saints, sinners and struggling souls; she is the mother of bruised reeds and smoldering wicks. She is the mother of orphans, refugees, outcasts, slaves and prisoners. She is the mother of the helpless, the oppressed, the silenced, the forgotten. She is the mother who lifts the smallest children above the greatest, the mother who makes the wounded children whole. She is the Great Sign for all times– the sign that, when God arises to scatter His enemies, the lowly will be lifted to the highest place.
All wreaths of empire meet upon the brow of Christ; every knee shall bend and every tongue confess Him King. Christ has given the queenship to His mother, and she is Queen of Heaven and earth.
Who is she that comes forth as the daybreak, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?
it is Miriam. It is Mary, Marie, Maria, Mairi, Molly, Maren, Marian, Muire, Mara, Marika, Mariamma, Marigold, Lily, Rose, Sophia, Luz, Dolores, Blanche, Blanca, Immaculee, Estrella, Guadelupe, Lourdes, Fatima, a name that will be blessed by every tongue until Christ returns in glory.
It is Miriam, thanks be to God!
(image via pixabay)
Steel Magnificat will be meditating on the Sorrows and Joys of Mary throughout Saint Philip’s Fast. Previous entries can be found here:
The First Joy The First Sorrow
The Second Joy The Second Sorrow
The Third Joy The Third Sorrow
The Fourth Joy The Fourth Sorrow
The Fifth Joy The Fifth Sorrow
The Sixth Joy The Sixth Sorrow
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